Indicator



June 2, 1936. w. 1.. MAXSON I NDICATOR Filed Dec. 15, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR M 66 W BY (a ATTORNEY June 2, 1936. w. 1.. MAXSON INDICATOR Filed Dec. 15, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 17a #7! E INVENTOR VGA ATTORNEYS Patented June 2, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE mnrosroa William L. Manon, Plpestone, Minn. Application December 15, 193:, Serial No. 102,410

Claims. (Cl. 40-10) This invention relates to indicators and has for its object a simple, compact, inexpensive and easily operable indicator which will give direct readings of relationships existing between a group of units listed on the indicator.

The units oi the indicator may be any which have a definite relationship existing between them. By way of example, the invention is specifically disclosed as an indicator of distances between any two cities of a selected group of cities. In this example, the cities are the units. However, the indicator is adaptable for use in connection with any group of units having a fixed relationship existing therebetween.

l5 Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the intermediate disk,

and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the bottom disk.

A top disk l0, an intermediate disk II and a bottom disk l2 are held together for relative rotary movement by a rivet-or the like II. The disk I0 is provided with a spiral slot ll which preferably is an Archimedean spiral. On the periphery of the disk I 0 is provided a series of uniformly spaced reference lines, I! which define.

equal segments. On the disk It is arranged a succession of spiral lines of numbers, each lineof numbers being of the same configuration as the slot H and so arranged that each line of figures is capable of registration with the slot II. There are as many spiral lines of numbers as there are reference lines li-and the first numbers in the successive spirals define a circle concentric with the-three "disks. The disk II is provided with a series of windows it which correspond successively to sections of the slot I having the same length of are as the above mentioned segments. The windows are so arranged that rotation of the disk Ill through successive segments efi'ects rotation of the windows with their corresponding slot sections. The numbers in the spiral lines are so spaced that with the slot ll overlying said line of numbers. the numbers are successively visible upon registration of successive windows I 8 with their corresponding slot portions.

Many of the windows are not physically separate from each other. but each window cooperates with the slot H to function independently of the other windows. Disks II and i2 are provided respectively with tabs I1 and i8 provided with reference Zines Na and I adapted for registration with the reference lines IS on the disk ill. 5

The embodiment of the invention herein specifically disclosed is a device for indicating the distance between any two given cities of a predetermined group of cities. The various city names are arranged in alinement with the refer- 10 once lines H5. The various numbers in each of the spiral lines of numbers reading outward represent respectively distances between a given listed city and all the listed cities, including itself, reading clockwise of the disk l0. One spiral 16 starts with zero and the remaining spirals are so arranged that the series of numbers of the inner circle reading counter-clockwise from the zero is the same as the series of numbers on said spiral reading outwardly. 20

The reference line l8a is so arranged that when it registers with the reference line l5 of a predetermined city, Washington in this instance, the slot I 4 overlies the spiral starting with zero. The reference line Ila is so arranged that when it is 2 in register with the reference line its, the innermost window It registers with the zero of the inner circle of numbers on the disk H, and it follows that by reason of the succession of windowsin the various spirals, each successive win- 30 dow it in such position of the disks l2 and I3 registers with the zeros in the successive spirals sothat whenever the reference lines Ila and Isa. are in register with the same reference line It, the indicator shows zero distance. 35

In'the use of the above described device, the disks II and I! are rotated relative to the disk It by means of the tabs l1 and It to bring'the reference lines Na and Ian into registration with the reference line I! of the two cities, the dis- 40 tance between which it is desired to find out. The number representing such distance will be visible through the slot l4 and a window I and may be read of! directly. The lines of numbers on the disk I! preferably follow an Archimedean 45 spiral as such spiral permits complete coverage of the bottom disk with lines of numbers of equal height throughout. Other spirals do not permit complete coverage by lines of numbers of equal height. 50 As previously pointed out, the invention is not limited to an indicator of distances between cities, but is adapted for use to indicate fixed relationships existing between individual units of a group of selected units. Furthermore, an indicator em- 55 bodying the invention may comprise merely the disks l0 and I2. In such an indicator, a complete spiral of numbers or other data becomes visible upon registration of the reference line i8a with a reference line i! and the data in the spiral lines bear a definite relationship to the units corresponding to the different reference lines it.

It is, of course, apparent that various modiiications may be made without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising three superposed concentric disks connected together for relative rotation, the upper disk having a spiral slot and having uniformly spaced reference points along its periphery representing units, the lower disk having an equal number of lines of numbers arranged along curves identical with said spiral slot, the numbers in each line representing relationships between a given unit and all the units, and reference lines on the middle and lower disks, the middle disk having a series of windows successively corresponding to successive equal portions of said spiral slot and so arranged that a window registers with the slot over the number representing the relationship between two units when the reference lines on the lower and middle disks are in register with reference lines on the upper disk representing said units.

2. A device of the character described comprising three superposed concentric disks connected together for relative rotation, the upper disk having a spiral slot and uniformly spaced reference lines about its periphery representing units, the lower disk having an equal number of lines of numbers arranged along curves identical with said spiral slot, the numbers in each line representing relationships respectively between a given unit and all the units, reference lines on the middle and lower disks, the middle disk having a series of windows successively corresponding to successive equal sections of said slot, said windows being so arranged that upon rotation of the middle disk relative to the upper disk the windows register successively with corresponding portions of the slot upon registration of the middle disk reference line with successive reference lines on the upper disk and the numbers of each spiral line being so arranged that with the spiral slot in registration therewith, the windows register with said numbers successively upon registration of the middle disk reference line with successive upper disk reference lines.

3. A device of the character described comprising three superposed concentric disks connected together for relative rotation, the upper disk having a spiral slot and uniformly spaced reference lines about its periphery representing units, the lower disk having an equal number of lines of numbers arranged along curves identical with said spiral slot, the numbers in each'line representing relationships respectively between a given unit and allthe units, reference lines on the middle and lower disks, the middle disk having aseries of windows successively corresponding to successive portions of said slot and corresponding to successive equal sections of said slot, said windows being so arranged that upon rotation of the middle disk relative to the upper disk the windows register successively with corresponding portions of the slot upon registration of the middle disk reference line with successive reference lines on the upper disk and the numbers on the lower disk being so arranged that a spiral line of numbers underlies the upper disk slot upon registration of the lower disk reference 5 line with any upper disk reference line.

4. A device of the character described comprising three superposed concentric disks connected together for relative rotation, the upper disk having an Archimedean spiral slot and havl0 ing uniformly spaced reference points along its periphery representing units, the lower disk having an equal number of lines of numbers arranged along curves identical with said spiral slot, the numbers in each line representing relationships 15 between a given unit and all the units, and reference lines on the middle and lower disks, the middle disk having a series of windows so arranged that a window registers with the slot over the number representing the relationship 20 between two units when the reference lines on the lower and middle disks are in register with reference lines on the upper disk representing said units.

5. A device of the character described com- 25 prising three superposed concentric disks connected together for relative rotation, the upper disk having an Archimedean spiral slot and uniformly spaced reference lines about its periphery representing units, the lower disk having an 30 equal number of lines of numbers arranged along curves identical with said spiral slot, the numbers in each line representing relationships respectively between a given unit and all the units, reference lines on the middle and lower disks, the 35 middle disk having a series of windows successively corresponding to successive equal sections of said slot, said windows being so arranged that upon rotation of the middle disk relative to the upper disk the windows register successively with corresponding portions of the slot upon registration of the middle disk reference line with successive reference lines on the upper disk and the numbers of each spiral line being so arranged that with the spiral slot in registration there- 45 with, the windows register with said numbers successively upon registration of the middle disk reference line with successive upper disk reference lines. l

6. A device of the character described comprising three superposed concentric disks con nected together for relative rotation, the upper disk having an Archimedean spiral slot and uniformly spaced reference lines about its periphery representing .units', the lower disk having an equal number-of lines of numbers arranged along curves identical with saidspiral slot, the numbers in each line represe'nting'relationships respectively between a given unit and all the units, reference lines on the middle and lower disks, the middle disk having a series of windows successively correspondingto successive equal sections of said slot, said windows being so arranged that upon rotation of the middle disk relative to the upper disk the windows register suc'cessivelywith corresponding portions of the slot upon registration of the middle disk reference line with successive reference lines on the upper disk and the numbers on-the lower disk being so arranged that a-spiral line of numbers underlies the upper 70 disk slot upon registration of the lower disk reference line with any upper disk reference line.

WmiIAM L. MAXBON.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,042,615. June 2, 1956.

WILLIAM L. MAXSON.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows; Page 2, first column, line 68-69, claim 3, strike out the words "portions of said slot and corresponding to successive"; and second column, line 18, claim 4, after "windows" insert the words "successively corresponding to successive portions of said slot and"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of August, A. D. 1956.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner Patents.

CERTIFICATE or I CGRRECTION.

Patent No. 2,042,615.. June 2, 1956.

WILLIAM L. MAXSONV.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows; Page 2, first column, line 68-69, claim 5, strike out the words "portions of said slot and corresponding to successive"; and second column, line 18, claim 4, after "windows" insert the words "successively corresponding to. successive portions of said slot and" and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of August, A. D. 1956.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner Patents, 

